Method of and apparatus for manu



May 9, 1944. H. A. PERKINS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed 001. 3, 1939 i v INVENTOE Hiram/1. Per/(172s ATTORNEY.

May 9, 1944. H. A. PERKINS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 3, 1939 INVENTOR. Hzram A. Perkins ATTORNEY.

May 9, 1944. H. A. PERKINS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES Original Filed Oct. 5, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 mmw wmw

1N VENT OR. BY ffzram/l. Perkins ATTORNEY.

May 9, 1944. Re. 22,478

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES H. A. PERKINS Original Filed Oct. 5, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Em 3N INVENTOR. Hiram A. Per/(122$ y 1944- H. A. PERKINS Re. 22,478

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES Original Filed Oct. 3, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 A. Perkins W ATTORNEY.

May 9, 1944. H. A. PERKINS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES Original Filed Oct. 3, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 I IN VENTOR. Hz ram A. Perkms ATTORNEY.

y 1944- H. A. PERKINS Re. 22,478

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES v Original Filed Oct. 3, 1939 14 Sheeis-Sheet 7 w m w INVENTOR, [imam/1. Perkins ATTORNEY.

y 1944 H. A. PERKINS Re. 22,478

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES Ori inal Filed Oct. 3, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 l V mun-I AQV/lll/A LN A INVENTOR.

Hiram A. Perkins W ATTORNEY.

May 9, 1944. H A. PERKINS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES Original Filed 001;. 5, B39 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 J L 366 1 390 322 364 310 334 33s Fig/.9 E

INVENTOR. [imam APerkzns ATTORNEY.

M y 9 H. A. PERKINS Re. 22,478

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES Original Filed Oct. 5, 1959 14 Sheets-sheaf. 10

IN VENTOR.

Hz'ramAPer/cz'ns BY ATTORNEY.

y 1944- H. A. PERKINS Re. 22,478

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES Original Filed Oct. 3, 1939 I4 Sheets-Sheet 11 IN VEN TOR.

f/z'ram APer/cz'ns WW ATTORNEY.

y 1944- H. A. PERKINS Re. 22,478

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE A RTICLES Original Filed Oct. 5, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet l2 INVENTOR.

BY Hiram A.Per/ '1'n$ ATTORNEY.

y 1944- H. A. PERKINS Re. 22,478

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES Original Filed Oct. 3, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet l5 1N VENT OR.

Hiram A. Perkins ATTORNEY.

y 9 H. A. PERKINS Re. 22,478

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES Original Filed Oct. 5, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTOR.

F BY fi l'ram APer/cz'ns 1 ATTORNEY.

Reissue d May 9, 1944 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOB MANU- FACTURING RODLIKE ARTICLES Hiram A. Perkins, deceased, late of Rochester,

N. Y., by Stuart L. Perkins, Rochester,

and Madeleine P. Hathaway, Montclair, N. 1., executors; said Hiram A. Perkins, assignor to Setter Bros. Inc., Cattaraugus, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original No. 2,308,537, dated January 19, 1943, Se-

I'lal No.'297,684, October 3, 1939.

Application for reissue January 14, 1944, Serial No. 518,309

25 Claims. (Cl. 93-1) like paper sticks may be rapidly and automatically formed in a reliable manner. The stick pro-' duced is preferably substantially solldto promote its advantageous employment in the manufacture oi confection products, the use of which will eliminate certain hazards of the prior art.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following description in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in accordance with the requirements of the Federal statutes pertaining to such matters, and particularly section 4888 R. S.

The apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings receives paper unwound from a supply roll at a substantially constant speed; it cuts the paper into strips; subjects the strips to a multiple crimping action along closely spaced parallel lines to initiate their convolution; it continues the convoluting action to form loose rolls; and it compacts and bonds the loosely convoluted rolls into substantially solid and self-sustaining rodlike bodies.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the illustrative apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the roll stand, illustrating the operation of the means for cutting the paper into strips and the means for crimping the strips.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in the nature of a partial plan of the cutter indicated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating, in vertical section, the crimper roll and the strippers which separate the crimped paper strips from the roll. This view is taken on the line 80 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a view in the nature of a partial elevation of the crimper roll and stripper shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 815 a plan'view of the forward part of the illustrative machine showing the roll stand and the elements associated therewith.

Fig. 9 is a large scale partial elevation showing the control mechanism, some parts of which are indicated in vertical section.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing parts of the control mechanism in their positions assumed when the operation of the machine is stopped due to exhaustion of the paper supply.

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the mechanism for stopping the operation of the machine in the event that the cutter or crlmper fails to function P p ly.

Figs. 12 to 17 inclusive are vertical sections diagrammatically showing successive actions of the crimper and its co-acting parts in initiating the formation of a loosely convoluted paper roll.

Fig. 18 is a vertical section through the stick cutter which severs the compacted sticks into desired lengths for candy sticks. This view is taken on the section line ll-l8 of Fig. 19, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 19 is a bottom plan 01. the stick cutter. taken on the plane indicated by the line l9i9 of Figs. 18 and 20 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 20 is a vertical longitudinal section through the stick cutter taken on the section line 20-20 of Fig. 19. This view shows the compacted stick cut into three lengths appropriate for use in the manufacture of confection products.

Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 22 is a rear elevation of the machine.

Fig. 23 is a vertical section on the broken section line 23-43 of Fig. i.

Fig. 24 is a detail view showing one of the devicelssfor separating the selvage ends of the cut stic from the stick portions of the proper length for commercial use. This view shows this device in front elevation.

Fig. 25 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is an enlarged detailed view of the cam lock by which the hinged presser plate is locked in its operative position.

Fig. 27 is a detail view showing the Fig. 26 cam Fig. 31 is a longitudinal vertical section on the 1 plane of the line ll-Il of Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is a diagrammatic view indicating the Fig. 38 control mechanism and the manner in r which it is associated with the electrical circuits for controlling the driving motor.

Fig. 33 is a partial plan view showing the "talltale" discs and their associated elements, in hori zontal section.

Fig. 34 is an elevation of the tell-tale" discs.

Fig. 35 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a side elevation showings. mechanism for controlling the supply of bonding fluid.

Fig. 36 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a plan showing arrangement of elements for the Fig. 35' mechanism. 1

Fig. 37 is a partial vertical section illustrating the construction of the pressure plate structure for providinga succession of convoluting and compacting actions between which the loosely convoluted rolls are permitted to expand so that they assume a more nearly circular cross-section.

Fig. 38 is a detail view in the nature of an elevation showing a part of the control mechanism by which the movement of the main belt is stopped when its speed falls below a predetermined speed.

Referring generally to the. operation of the machine, the paper runs continuously through the machine from the rotatable supply roll ll (see Fig. 2). -It first moves to the roll stand I! where it passes between the cutter roll II and the co-acting presser roll it. The former carries diametrically opposed knives l8 and 20 which enter similarly positioned recesses 22 and 24 in the presser'roll i6 as these rolls rotate. The paper is thus cut into the desired lengths.

The severed strips of paper then are advanced to a position wherein they are, in succession, forced against the crimper roll 30 by the rubber faced roll 32. As the roll 92 is driven, each paper strip is crimped and advanced partially about an arc of the crimper roll. As the crimped portion approaches the end of this are it is separated from the crimper roll and the separated portion begins to form convolutions the number of which is increased by the subsequent advance of the strip and by the action of elements associated with the crimper roll. This formation of convolutions is then continued by the action of the endless belt II) which is continuously driven so that its upper run moves to the right in Figs. 2, 4, and 12 to 1'7 inclusive. The formation of the loosely convoluted rolls takes place in different stages such as those indicated in Figs. 12 to 17, and the belt 49 then causes the rolls to advance through the compacter which is generally indicated by the numeral 42 in Fig. 2. The upper surface of the belt forms the lower side of the roll compacting passage-way and the upper side of that passage-way is formed by the bottom surface of the presser plate structure U. A part of this passage-way preferably tapers toward a smaller cross-section in the direction of movement of the belt 40, and there may be a succession of such tapering sections to properly perfect the shape of the ultimate pmduct. However, as the paper rolls must be set and bonded as well as reduced in diameter and compacted, I have found that a later or final section of the passageway should not thus taper, but should have its sides substantially parallelin order that the reduces olls may be adequately bonded and given a per...anent set.

The belt ll) is driven by a pulley 46 so that it causes the compacted sticks to advance beneath the stick cutter mechanism 49. In such advance the compacted sticks are cut into the desired leng hs as indicated in Fig. 18. The cut sticks then move over a part of the surface of the belt on the pulley l6 and are removed from the belt, the selvage ends 49 (Fig. 24) of the sticks being separated from the sticks 50 of proper lengths by the device indicated in Fig. 24 of the drawings. This device is mounted upon a wiper bar 52 which is held in. position closely adjacent to the surface of the belt at the discharge end of the machine.

The frame of the machine itself which is shown in side elevation in Fig. 1 and in plan in Fig. 3, consists of two heavy side castings 69 and 9!. Each is reinforced interiorly of the machine by the ribs 94. The castings are held in parallel relationship by appropriate transverse frame members, one of which is indicated at 99 in Fig. 21.

At the forward end of the machine bearings are provided for rotatably supporting the ends of the'shaft upon which the rotatable paper supply roll Ill is mounted. Each of these bearings consists of a plurality of interspersed or overlapping rollers such as are indicated at Ill and I! in Fig. 1. At each side of the machine the shaft ll, non-rotatably mounted in the core of the paper supply roll l0 rests between and upon these rollers and it is held in position on the rollers by a co-operating roller 16 rotatably mounted in the end of a block 18 which is releasably secured to a support 99 resting upon the forward end of the frame. This arrangement of elements (Fig. 1) is such that the shaft for the paper supply roll may be readily removed when a roll is exhausted and a new supply roll quickly placed in operative position. Thereupon the block 19 is locked in its operative position by the cap screw 92 so as to hold the roller 12 in contact with the shaft 14.

In'order that the paper may remain under tension between the supply roll Ill and the roll stand I2, means are provided for preventing overrunning of the supply roll. As illustrated, this means includes a presser arm 90 illustrated in Fig. 2. This arm is fixed upon a rod 92 journalled in the side frame members 99 and 52 as particularly indicated in Fig. 21. At its upper end the arm carries a smooth faced presser foot 94 which is held frictionally against the supply roll by reason of the action of the weight 96 (Fig. 1) slidably mounted upon an arm 98 which is non-rotatably fixed upon a trunnion I".

The trunnion I00 is journalled in a bearing ID! in the frame member 69 and has fixed at its other end a sprocket 9 l An aligned sprocket 93' is secured to the rod 92 and a sprocket chain is trained over these sprockets. This arrangement of elements causes the trunnion I99 and the rod 92 to turn in unison and renders the weight 99 effective to continuously bias the presser foot 94 against the supply roll 10 so as to prevent its over-running.

When, after the exhaustion of the paper of one supply roll, it is desired to insert a new supply roll, the presser arm must be released so as not to interfere with the installation of the new roll. This is readily accomplished by sliding the weight 96 along the rod or arm 99 toward the trunnion I00. 'As it approaches that position the proportioning and relationship of the parts is such that the weight of the presser arm 90 overbalances the effect of the weight 96 to cause the arm 9|! and the presser foot 94 to move out ofthe path of the new supply roll. After the latter is placed in position and its shaft 14 is secured in operative position by the roller 16, the sliding weight 96 is released from its inner position and is moved toward the outer end of the arm 98 so that it may be effective to raise the presser foot 94 into its position of frictional contact with the supply roll.

As the paper moves from the supply roll to the roll stand it passes under a bar or roller I04 which is supported at its ends by arms I06 and I06 preferably journalled about the axis of the supply roll. Thus the paper sections H0, H2 and H4 are maintained substantially straight and the desired tension is maintained on the paper. In addition I have found it important to insure the parallelism of the arms I06 and I06 in all of their movements, or to otherwise insure that the ends of the roller always have the same movements.

In front of the roll stand I2 the paper is trained over a guide rod I20 (Fig. 4) and it passes from this rod beneath another rod I22 which is located in proximity to the recessed driven roller I6, the paper passing between the rod I20 and the roller I6 at such a position that the paper is always maintained in contact with at least a third of the circumference of the recessed roll I6.

By reason of the rotation of the recessed roll I6 in the direction of the arrow 86 (see Fig. 4) the paper is maintained under slight tension between the supply roll and the roll stand and sufficient frictional engagement between the paper and the recessed roll I6 for this purpose is maintained by the rubber faced idler roll I24; The trunnions or the ends of the shaft of this roll are freely rotatable in the roll stand and additional frictional engagement between the paper and the recessed roll I6 may be provided by another idler roll I26 which is freely rotatable in the roll stand and is mounted in such a manner that it rests upon the roll I24.

Strip cutting mechanism The cutter roll is a cylinder having its shaft or trunnions journalled in anti-friction hearings in the roll stand sides I30 and I32. Its knives I6 and 20 are in the nature of saw tooth blades as indicated in Figs. of the drawings and they are positioned in slots which are milled in the outer surface of the cutter roll along lines parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roll. The teeth of the knives have such action that they will readily cut through the paper with a minimum of resistance and the knives are held rigidly in their operative positions by means of set screws I34 and I36 positioned within the circular confines of the roll.

Because of the necessity for-quick and clean cutting action on the part of the cutter knives, the machine is arranged so that the knives contact the paper as it is stretched across one of the recesses 22 and 24 in the presser roll I6 and it is essential that the proper angular relationship of the rolls I4 and I6 be maintained in order that the knives may not contact with the surface of the roll l6 beyond the confines of the recesses 22 and 24.

In order that the operator may know of the exact angular relationship of the cutter knives I44 and I46 of the same cross-section as the main knives of the cutter roll and similarly mounted within the tell-tale" disc. In order that the tell-tale" knives may be accurately aligned with the main' cutter knives the knife slots in the tell-tale disc I40 are formed or with reference to the recesses in the presser roll disc is of the same outside diameter as the cutter roll and it is provided with "tell-tale" knives milled during the operation which forms the slots for the main knives and this is done after the disc is keyed to the shaft.

Upon the shaft I50 of the presser roll I6 and located exteriorly of the roll stand there is a second tell-tale" disc I52 of the same diameter as the presser roll I6 and aligned with the disc I40. This disc I52 is fixed to the shaft I50 so that the knife recesses I10 and I12 are always in exact alignment with the similar recesses 22 and 24 of the roll I6. The disc may be provided with slots I60, I62 and I64 through which project pins I54, I56 and I58 fixed with reference to the sprocket I82 which directly drives the roll I6.

These pins are preferably screw threaded so as to i receive nuts by which the disc I52 may be held in a predetermined angular relation to the sprocket.

If at any time, the operator sees that the tell-tale" knives I44 and I46 are not co-operating properly with the recesses I10 and I12 in the disc I52 he can release the disc I52 from its sprocket I82, position the disc and its recesses properly with relation to the tell-tale knives and thereafter tighten the disc I52 relative to the sprocket so that the proper relationship of the main cutter knives I8 and 20 with reference to the recesses 22 and 24 is restored.

The cutter roll I4 and the presser roll I6 are driven at the same speed and in opposite directions by means of a sprocket chain I60 which is indicated in Fig. 10 of the drawings. The chain is trained over the top of a sprocket I82 on the shaft I50 and underneath the sprocket I64 of .similar size mounted on the shaft I42 of the cutter roll I4. Then the chain passes over a sprocket I86 aligned with the above indicate/l sprockets and mounted upon a countershaft I88 which is journalled in slid'able bearings I00 and I92 mounted in the sides of the roll stand frame (see Fig. 8).

Each of the journal blocks or bearings I93 and I92 has a stud bolt I94 fixed therein as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, this bolt passing freely through a clear hole in a stationary plate I96. Between the head 200 of the bolt I94 and the plate I06 there is a compression spring 202 which tends to move the shaft I88 in such direction that the sprocket chain I60 is maintained in operative condition, and excessive movements of the chain and the shaft during normal operation may be prevented by screw-threading a nut upon the bolt I04 in such position that the spring 202 causes this nut to normally abut the left hand side of the plate I66.

In the event that the paper accidentally starts to wind up around the presser roll 16. it immediately causes the presser roll to move sligh ly to the left (in Figs. 4 and 10). This causes the friction disk I5I adjacent the "tell-tale" disk I52 to contact the release block 2I0 and. by mechanism which will be hereinafter described, immediately stop the operation of the machine. he presser roll I6 is allowed to have such movement away from the cutter roll I4 by reason of the mounting of its shaft or trunnions in slidable journals 2I2. These journals are slidably mounted in guide-ways in the sides of the roll stand frame and they are provi ed with sockets in which compression springs 2I4 are disposed.

4' These springs are maintained under the desired compression to hold the presser roll it in its operative position. by screw threaded set screws 2|! screw threadedintoiixed upright plates 2". The inner ends of these bolts-pass freely into the spring sockets in the ioumals 2l2 and compress the springs 2" to the desired degree. They are held in the desired position by lock nuts 22'! mounted upon the bolts 2 and locked against the plate 2 II.

Beyond the position at which the paper is cut into stick strips the paper extends through an upright passage 22! defined on one side by the fixed guide member 232 (see Fig. 4) and on the other side by a second guide member 232 which is held between the presser roll I. and the rubber faced roll 32. The guide member 232 has its upper and lower surfaces preferably shaped to correspond with the surfaces of the rolls l8 and 32 in order that it may fit closely and provide as little opening as possible through which the paper might accidentally pass.

The crimping mechanism Below the guide member 232 the passage-way 22! is continued by the surface of the rubber faced roll 32 and at the lower end of this passage the crimper roll 30 is located. The arrangement of this crimper roll with reference to the associated elements is clearly indicated in Figs. 4 and 12 of the drawings. Its construction is indicated in Figs. 6 and '7. Itconsists of what may be termed a fluted steel shaft, presenting a number of sharp ribs 2 running parallel to its axis. At its ends the crimper roll is formed so as to present trunnions which are rotatably mounted in hearings in the sides of the roll stand frame.

The crimper roll is also machined with a D111- rality of spaced grooves 2" to receive strippers 2 which are fixed to the plate 246.

The crimper roll is driven by the rubber faced indenter roll 32 rotatably mounted in journal blocks 2. The latter are spring pressed toward the crimper roll by set screws 250 and other associated means similar to the means which are above described with reference to the Journal blocks 2l2 for the presser roll it. The pressure upon the journal blocks 24! is so regulated as to cause the ribs 2" of the crimper roll 30 to be indented into the rubber or other resilient layer 252 of the roll 32.

Thus the paper in passing from the point at which it is cut by one of the knives l8 and 20 is sharply crimped along parallel lines and is simultaneously gripped so that it is caused to advance.

The convoluting mechanism As the operation of the machine continues the leading edge of the paper proceeds around the crimper roll 30 until it is removed from the crimper roll by the strippers 2. The initiation of this action is indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings in which the leading edge 2" of a stick strip is just beginning to be moved away from the crimper roll. This situation is also indicated in Fig. 12 of the drawings.

As the crimper roll continues to rotate, the leading edge of the released stick strip contacts with a gripping surface of a layer of material 262 which faces the lower surface of the fixed plate I. Then the spring action of the released part of the paper is eil'ective to cause the paper to assume the position indicated at 2 in Fig. 13. In this position the lower edge of the partially formed loop of paper contacts with the belt ll v and is caused thereby to move to the right.

Further continued action of the parts and the efiect 0f the crimping on the leading edge of the paper causes the initial convolutions to begin to form as indicated in Fig. 14 of the drawings. The belt ill by reason of its effect upon the lower part of the released paper strip then promotes further convoluting action until the first convolution is complete as indicated at 218 in Fig. 15 of the drawings. Thereafter, the loosely convoluted paper roll is released from the crimper roll and its number of convolutions is increased by reason of the gripping surface of the fixed layer 262 and the relative movement of the belt 42 to the right. The action continues in this manner, increasing the number of convolutions of the roll and decreasing the size thereof, as the roll proceeds down the passage-way 280 between the belt 40 and the surface of the layer 262. This passageway is tapered as clearly indicated in Figs. 12 to 17 inclusive so that it decreases in size, away from the crimper roll Ill.

As the convoluting roll 210 (see Fig. 15) proceeds along the convoluting passage-way 288 it becomes somewhat ovate, or egg-shaped, as indicated in Fig. 16 of the drawings, and if this action were continued, a condition would soon be reached wherein the convoluted strip would not be rolled. This would result from the increasing resistance of the convolutions to the effect of the movement of the belt lll. Such a condition would not only defeat the main purpose of the apparatus but it would also cause a stoppage of the machine by reason of the piling up of the convoluted strips in the passage-way between the belt Ill and the lower surface of the pressure plate. To prevent such action the pressure plate structure may be formed somewhat as indicated in Fig. 37 of the drawings. Here the lower portion of the pressure plate RS is formed so as to present the inclined upper surface of one of a series of con voluting and compacting passage-ways. As shown the section RS is inclined with reference to the upper surface of the belt 40 and the end of this section adjacent to the plate structure 246 is spaced upwardly of the lower surface of the facing material 262 so as to present a recess 2 in which the egg-shaped convoluted roll may assume a more nearly round cross section as soon as it leaves the end of the convoluting passageway between the bottom of the plate 246 and the belt Ill. This action not only results in the loose-- ly convoluted roll assuming a substantially circular cross section but it also results in a tendency to straighten the roll as it assumes a condition somewhat similar to that indicated at 284 in Fig. 17 of the drawings.

As the roll 28! proceeds down the compacting passage-way section RS it again becomes somewhat ovate at the point Sand it is again allowed to expand slightly by reason of the relationship of the pressure plate section ST with reference to the section RS. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 37 that the leading end of this section ST. has much the same relation to the discharging end of the section RS as the leading end of the latter had to the discharge part of the passage-way 280.

It is the preferred arrangement that the roll is more compacted, and has more convolutions at the end of the passage-way RS than at the end of the convoluting passage-way 280, and that at the end of the section ST the cross section of the roll is still smaller.

' tion.

compacting action. The illustrative in Bey nd e c m a in s nvc ut zf tions ST there may-baa short similar. section TV which the smaller. egg-shaped roll to .,again reforrnand straighten before it enters the, lon er compacting passage way 288. The latter i preferably without. any taper and ,itv islong enough to suiliciently increase thetime factor of the compacting and bonding action .of' the apparatus. Quring the passage of-the rolls through the compacting passage-way!" th y are subiect to considerablepressure-m order that they maybe given a permanentset and become thoroughly bonded. The positions indicated by RS an d T maybe considered as stick shaping or roll shaping positions inasmuch as the desired shape of the ultimate product is perfectly circular in cross sec- -Sealing or bonding fluid is applied to the belt 4. by means of rollers .280 and 292. The upper surfaces of these rollers. are in contact with the lower run of the belt and as they rotate they move through a body of fluid. 296 preferablymaintained at a constant level in the pan 2.98. As shown the pan is provided with baiiles 300 and 302 .which minimize undesirable disturbances of the surface of the fluid within the pan. These bailles are preferably provided with openings so that the fluid may flow from a chamber on one side of the baflleto a chamber on the other. The fluid level within the pan 298 is preferably maintained at a desired position by the location of anadjustable outlet at the upper'end of the drain pipe 304.

Thus, one side of the paper has been moistened before the occurrence of the actions indicated in Figs. 12 to 17 inclusive. However these actions take place so rapidly that the fluid hardly has time to substantially change the texture or condition of the paper to any appreciable extent before the rolls enter the compacting passageway 2lli. This passage-way is relatively long as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings and, at least for a portion of its length, it is tapered so thatit decreases in cross-section toward the discharge I end of the machine. --In thisway, and because tions of the ultimate product. Thisaction should not, however. take place until th paper. rolls are so reduced in diameter that their final dimensionis at least closelyapproached, as, I otherwise it'might interfere With-the compacting lo f the rolls by retarding the. relative movement of their adjacent; convolutions necessary inthe t i s i t ebo ing Ifluid is first applied to. the paper sufficiently ahead" of {the final bonding z ne that the fluid Lmayha ve. time to affect. the paper sizing and deweep its ondin P Ps I Y- m mh si s a is promotedbytheconvoluting action and the pressure of the compacting. However, when the paper initially contacts the conveyontheformer begins to removenthe bonding fluid from the x f the belt and to distribute'it upper surface ever the surfaces ae'an'v ueea droid loose- ,ly co vo u e a e be N115- 'husr h portion oftheactive surface of jtheconveyor in theflrst part of the compacting zoneland the following (or externalyconvolutions of the paper -tube may not have. their surfaces particularly affected by the presence ofthe fluid to any great degree. In fact, the. exterior convolutions may not have enough fluid therein to permit the bonding and scaling to be completed." This invention involves the overcoming f suchconditions by providing a conveyor with an, absorptive, surface in order that the pressure by which thecompacted rolls are forced against the absorptivesurface in the bonding zone may. cause fluid absorbed in the conveyor to be brought to'its surface where it can be transmitted to the surface of the compacted roll in order that it, may effect its intended result of facilitating the bonding and sealing of the roll.

The heat developedas-a resultof the friction on therolls or rods and themechanism exerting pressure thereon increases the temperature of the material of the rod as they approach the discharge end of the machine; and this heat is effective, with the sizing of the paper, the moisture, the rolling, and the. pressure, to calender the cylindrical rod surfaces.

There is a time factor involved in the compacting of the rolls as they proceed through the passage-way 286 and this time factor in combination with the pressure and the rolling-up effect of thebelt to combine in such way to produce the permanent set of the rolls.

The discharge end of the-compa way is indicatedin Fig. 18 ofthe drawings. Here the compacted rollspass along toward the end of the pressure plate structure and during their. movement toward this positionithas been found that some of the rcllsmay be slightly bowed probably because of the diiilculty in maintaining absolutely uniform pressure throughout the width of the-belt l0 and the plate To correct this condition and to insure. an arrangement of the rolls 3l2 wherein they are 90 to the direction of travel of the belt 4]! at azpoint iminclined-cam faceill along its lower surface.

n The frame on also hasflxedtheretothe stop 3I5f which moves vertically-1. .1; .an opening between the rear edge of the pressureplate-structure H and the cutter frame fonthe knives 1.322. When the belt causes oneof the, rolls! to move against the .camfa-ce 3i! .the'fram'e "I. is :raised slightly but the contacting roll continues -to;advance' underthe cam face. -As':soon' as the roll passes out of contact with'this face the roll is -liberated from the downward pressure-"created by the spring 3H and itis allowed tostra-ighten. 'Then as it feeds along the belt 40 it' contacts 'When "the succeeding stick or roll engages th ca ace 3'? seem stqlifa iii mi s the squared up roll to'advancejto the uttering :rrhe springjl'l' is adjustablyfconflnedbetwgen the name :01 and crisp lllsd'thtttthe com,

cting passagepression of the spring may be varied, as desired, to produce the indicated result.

' t In the zone between the lifting member Ill and the stop 3|! the space between the belt 44 and the plate structure 44 is slightly greater than the corresponding space 'beyond this zone to facilitate the straightening and squaring up action of the stop Ill.

The stick cutter within an opening 333 provided by the frame members 332, 334 and 333 which are preferably integral with the presser plate structure 44.

Thus when the entire presser plate structure is held fixed with reference to the upper surface of the belt 43 (whichv is determined by the fixed charge end of the machine.

elusive have the knives 322 frictionally held" of the knives extend into the passage-way 236 at least to an extent which is about half the diameter of the compacted rolls 3I2. The knives are accurately positioned between the blocks 3 to M3 by means of pins 330 and 332, which are freely slidable in openings provided in frame 323. Aligned openings are formed along the facing edges of the blocks in order that the pins 333 to 332 may be moved so as to dispose the knives in the positions above described and indicated in Fig. 18.

The knives 322, each one of which is positioned between a pair of facing surfaces of blocks 3 to 313 inclusive, are first caused to be frictionally gripped by slightly tightening the nuts 334' and 336' on the end of the through rods 334 and 333 and the knives are thereafter accurately positioned with reference to what will ultimatelybe the lower surfaces of the blocks. After the knives are thus positioned the nuts on the through rods 334 and 333 are tightened so that the knives are permanently gripped in their operative positions. All of these operations may take place while the entire knife supporting frame 320 is separated from the machine.

The blocks 3l43l3 are held in their fixed positions vertically by the cap screws 340-341 the heads of which bear against the top of knife supporting frame 323 as indicated in Fig; 20 of the drawings. There are two groups of these cap screws, one group located at the front edges of the blocks 3l43l3 and the other group located at the rear edges of the blocks. when these screws are turned their screw threaded lower ends enter correspondingly threaded holes in the blocks 3i4--3Il and the blocks are tightly positioned against the lower ends of the downwardly projecting ribs or legs 353-352 of the knife frame 323.

The assembly of the knives 322 and the blocks 3l4-4ll3 in their correct positions is promoted by the provision of an aligning rib 380 (on each of the blocks 3I43l3 inc.)- which fits closely within the correspondingly shaped recess formed in the lower end of the leg 352, and this assembly is further facilitated by the provision of a cross bar or stop bar 364 provided with an upwardly extending rib 366 which abuts against the surface of the leg 333 extending downwardly from the following edge of the knife frame 323.

The knife frame 323, with all its component elements above described, constitutes a unitary countershaft 4 l 3.

The stick cutter assembly above described severs the compacted rolls into lengths which are desired for particular types of confection supports, the desired lengths 53 being thereafter separated from the selvage ends 49 by the members shown in Figs. 22, 24 and 2.5 of the drawings, these members being mounted upon the wiper bar 52 which is wedge shaped at its upper side as indicated at 402 in Fig. 25. The upper edge of this bar is disposed at a position closely adjacent to the surface of the belt as it passes around the roll 43, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Not only is the calendering effect on the cylindrical rod surfaces continued while the rods are passing through the stick cutter, but additional homogenizing and calendaring action takes place over the rod surfaces formed by the action of the knives in traversely cutting all the waythrough I the rods. The knives necessarily produce a wedging action tending to separate the severed rod parts axially of the rod, and as this action is Driving mechanism The parts of the illustrated machine are so arranged that the drive is to the discharge end of the conveyor belt 43, and this conveyor is utilized as a means for driving the strip cutting mechanism and the crimper. After the strip cutting mechanism is rendered inoperative the belt may continue in operation until machine is cleared or the complete machine stopped automatically when desired. As indicated in Fig. l of the drawings an electric motor 4lll is mounted within a recess 2 in the frame, this motor driving a countershaft 4|! by means of a driving pulley 413, a plurality of belts 3, and a driven pulley 423, fixed to the The drive from the countershaft takes place through a driving sprocket 422 and a sprocket chain 424 to a sprocket wheel 423 fixed upon the second countershaft 423. From this countershaft the drive is direct to the shaft 433 upon which the conveyor belt pulley or roll. is non-rotatively mounted. The connecting elements include a driving sprocket 432 fixed upon the countershaft 423, a sprocket chain body which may be rigidly and releasably fixed 1| at am 442 and the combined structure rotatable 

